A volume in Lifespan Learning Series Editors: Paris Strom, Auburn University, and Robert D. Strom Arizona State University Parents feel that a fast-paced lifestyle requires constant hurry to complete the next task and causes them to lose control over how time is spent. This environment makes it more difficult to build relationships with their children and teach them to honor priorities, care about others, maintain health, manage conflicts, and achieve balance. Our cross-cultural studies of families have found that the most important gift parents can give their children is spending time together. Being together without multitasking or other interruptions increases sharing, in depth conversations, learning, and closeness. This book shows how to prepare children for school by providing the following experiences. Parents have a new obligation, introducing their children to the Internet. Parent and child Internet visits are presented for each chapter with guidelines for teaching online. Information about child development stages are provided for parents on additional Web sites. You can link to these Web sites at Information Age Publishing http: //www.infoagepub.com/stromyoung- children Parents and children spend more time watching television together than doing other things. Conversation questions are provided as a tool that parents can use to find out how children interpret events they see and detect learning needs. Children will more likely become creative adults if they receive support for imagination and curiosity. Examples illustrate the merits of playing alone, playing with friends, and pretending with parents. Boys and girls like bedtime stories and are motivated to read when they see parents read for pleasure. Children's books that are recommended for discussion reinforce values parents hope to convey. Parents are responsible for teaching foundation lessons about socialization. Methods are described to foster development of child self-control, getting along with others, managing fears, and setting goals. Parents benefit from feedback on how well their goals and practices reflect principles of child development. A parent self-evaluation form includes questions and answers to identify personal strengths and learning needs. This book is for parents, grandparents, and other educators of young children ages 3 to 8.

"E-Training Practices for Professional Organizations" is an essential reference for anyone interested in the integration of e-business, e-work and e-learning processes. The book collects, for the first time, the proceedings from the 2003 IFIP eTrain Conference held in Pori, Finland.

The text serves as a multi-disciplinary resource for information on the research, development and applications of all topics related to e-Learning. The first half of the book discusses theories, paradigms and their applications in academia and industry. The last half of the book examines learning environments, design issues and collaboration among the corporate, governmental and academic sectors.

With academic and professional contributors, "E-Training Practices for Professional Organizations" reflects the multi-faceted and exciting nature of e-training studies. This volume presents the balanced view of past developments and current research necessary to truly reach the potential of this burgeoning field.

Technology can be a powerful tool for transforming learning. It can help affirm and advance relationships between educators and students, reinvent approaches to learning and collaboration, shrink long-standing equity and accessibility gaps, and adapt learning experiences to meet the needs of all learners. Technology-Supported Teaching and Research Methods for Educators provides innovative insights into the utilization and maintenance of technology-supported teaching and research methods for educators. The content within this publication represents the work of e-learning, digital technologies, and current issues and trends in the field of teaching and learning in the context of contemporary technologies. It is a vital reference source for school educators, professionals, school administrators, academicians, researchers, and graduate-level students seeking coverage on topics centered on the integration of effective technologies that will support educators and students.

Educational technology in the broadest sense is knowledge and competence forimproving the educational process: for using hardware (equipment), software (methods), and "underware" (underlying organizational structures). This volume in the Special Programme on Advanced Educational Technology presents the results of a NATO Advanced Research Workshop on educational systems design as a new educational technology. The objective of the workshop was toadvance our knowledge about the comprehensive systems design approach for improving educational systems. The workshop was organized for the transdisciplinary interaction of three scientific groups representing design science, organizational/systems science, and educationaltechnology. Participants were selected based on their scholarship as members of one or more of these three groups. The book opens with theframing papers sent by the editors to participants prior to the workshop, then presents five sets of thematic contributions: the conceptual and empirical contexts of comprehensive systems design, the systems design focus, a systems view of designing educational systems, the educational context of systems design, and high technology focus in systems design.

Why should every student take a computing course? What should be the content of these courses? How should they be taught, and by whom? This book addresses these questions by identifying the broader reaches of computing education, problem-solving and critical thinking as a general approach to learning. The book discusses new approaches to computing education, and considers whether the modern ubiquity of computing requires an educational approach that is inherently interdisciplinary and distinct from the traditional computer science perspective. The alternative approach that the authors advocate derives its mission from an intent to embed itself within an interdisciplinary arts and science context. An interdisciplinary approach to computing is compellingly valuable for students and educational institutions alike. Its goal is to support the educational and intellectual needs of students with interests in the entire range of academic disciplines. It capitalizes on students' focus on career development and employers' demand for technical, while also engaging a diverse student body that may not possess a pre-existing interest in computing for computing's sake. This approach makes directly evident the applicability of computer science topics to real-world interdisciplinary problems beyond computing and recognizes that technical and computational abilities are essential within every discipline. The book offers a valuable resource for computer science and computing education instructors who are presently re-thinking their curricula and pedagogical approaches and are actively trying new methods in the classroom. It will also benefit graduate students considering a future of teaching in the field, as well as administrators (in both higher education and high schools) interested in becoming conversant in the discourse surrounding the future of computing education.

Enhancing Learning Through Human Computer Interaction is an excellent reference source of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) applications and designs. This premier reference source provides a complete analysis of online business training programs and e-learning in the higher education sector. It describes a range of positive outcomes for linking information management techniques, which exploit the educational benefits of Web-mediated learning in computer-supported collaborative learning. Case studies depicting practical approaches for increasing the human dimension of HCI are also included to supply researchers and practitioners with innovative real-life examples.

Evolution of Information Technology in Educational Management As the editors of this volume we are very happy to publish a selection of the papers that were presented at the eighth Conference of Working Group 3.7 of the International Federation for Information Processing which was held in July 2008. The focus of Working Group 3.7 is on ITEM: Information Technology in Educational Management (for more information, please visit our website http: //item.wceruw.org/), and the theme of its 2008 conference was on the Evolution of Information Technology in Educational Management. Our Working Group started its activities (officially we were not an IFIP Working Group at that time) in 1994 in Israel, so it made sense to look at how ITEM has evolved over the years and to reflect on what its future may be. The conference took place in Darwin (northern Australia) which even during the Australian winter is a very pleasant location for having a conference. The town of Darwin was given its name by the Captain of the Beagle (the ship on which Darwin travelled when he made the investigations on which he based his Theory of Evolution) who came to the area and named the town after the giant of science he admired

Virtual Immersive and 3D Learning Spaces: Emerging Technologies helps push the conceptual and applied boundaries of virtual immersive learning. Virtual immersive spaces bring with them plenty of promise, of sensory information-rich learning experiences that will enable a much wider range of experiential learning and training-delivered to computer desktops, augmented reality spaces, digital installations, and mobile projective devices. This work explains how these spaces may be exploited for effective learning in terms of the technologies, pedagogical strategies, and directions.

Collecting and presenting the latest research and development results from the leading researchers in the field of e-learning systems, ""Web-Based Intelligent E-Learning Systems: Technologies and Applications"" provides a single record of current research and practical applications in Web-based intelligent e-learning systems. This book includes major aspects of Web-based e-learning systems standards and certifications, design and development, key techniques, prototypes, products, and applications. Readers interested in the technologies and applications of distance education, online learning, and training will find this book a starting point for the understanding of the notions, techniques, and methods related to the research and developments of Web-based e-learning systems.

The aim of this book is to present readers with state-of-the-art options which allow pupils as well as teachers to cope with the social impacts and implications of information technology and the rapid technological developments of the past 25 years. The book explores the following key areas: the adaption of curricula to the social needs of society; the influences of multimedia on social interaction; morals, values and ethics in the information technology curriculum; social and pedagogical variables which promote information technology use; and social implications of distance learning through the medium of information technology. This volume contains the selected proceedings of the TC3/TC9 International Working Conference of the Impact of Information technology, sponsored by the International Federation for Information Processing and held in Israel, March, 1996.

During the last few years economics and business education have emerged as one of the largest fields of study in higher education. At the same time, the pressing concern for improving the quality of higher education has led to a definite need for more knowledge about effective instruction and innovation in economics and business education. The book brings together many examples of reform in economics and business education. Special attention is paid to the problem-based learning approach, which over the past ten years, has developed as a very important innovation in higher education. The book contains contributions from a variety of institutions on the necessity of curriculum reform, the choice of instructional methods, assessment and testing, and management of change. It is of interest for teachers in higher education, educational psychologists, and any person interested in educational innovation in economics and business administration.

Instructional quality can make or break the learning experience, especially in digital environments where the expressional nuances of interpersonal communication are lost. The most effective distance education instructors and experts are those who recognize the educational needs of students and are able to address those needs through creative use of the technological tools available to them. Identification, Evaluation, and Perceptions of Distance Education Experts explores the current and future trends, needs, and priorities that affect the development of distance education in a postmodern world. This premier reference work will be of significance to those interested in online learning, teaching and training, communication, and education across multiple sectors such as universities, colleges, schools, profit/non-profit e-organizations, and e-commerce.

Educational technologies continue to advance the ways in which we teach and learn. As these technologies continue to improve our communication with one another, computer-assisted foreign language learning has provided a more efficient way of communication between different languages. Computer-Assisted Foreign Language Teaching and Learning: Technological Advances highlights new research and an original framework that brings together foreign language teaching, experiments and testing practices that utilise the most recent and widely used e-learning resources. This comprehensive collection of research will offer linguistic scholars, language teachers and students as well as policymakers a better understanding of the importance and influence of e-learning in second language acquisition.

The latest advances and trends in technology have enabled rapid development in the field of language education. Students and teachers alike now benefit from the assistance of various technological innovations, thus increasing the overall effectiveness of the curriculum. The Handbook of Research on Individual Differences in Computer-Assisted Language Learning addresses the implementation of current research methodologies within EFL and ESL classroom settings and the variety of modifications employed by language experts. Focusing on quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies, this book is an essential reference source for applied linguists, CALL researchers, language teachers, and upper-level students within the field of foreign language education.

In this book about a hundred papers are presented. These were selected from over 450 papers submitted to WCCE95. The papers are of high quality and cover many aspects of computers in education. Within the overall theme of "Liberating the learner" the papers cover the following main conference themes: Accreditation, Artificial Intelligence, Costing, Developing Countries, Distance Learning, Equity Issues, Evaluation (Formative and Summative), Flexible Learning, Implications, Informatics as Study Topic, Information Technology, Infrastructure, Integration, Knowledge as a Resource, Learner Centred Learning, Methodologies, National Policies, Resources, Social Issues, Software, Teacher Education, Tutoring, Visions. Also included are papers from the chairpersons of the six IFIP Working Groups on education (elementary/primary education, secondary education, university education, vocational education and training, research on educational applications and distance learning). In these papers the work in the groups is explained and a basis is given for the work of Professional Groups during the world conference. In the Professional Groups experts share their experience and expertise with other expert practitioners and contribute to a postconference report which will determine future actions of IFIP with respect to education. J. David Tinsley J. van Weert Tom Editors Acknowledgement The editors wish to thank Deryn Watson of Kings College London for organizing the paper reviewing process. The editors also wish to thank the School of Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics of the Catholic University of Nijmegen for its support in the production of this document.

"Towards Learning and instruction in Web 3.0," which includes selected expanded papers from CELDA (Cognition and Exploratory Learning in the Digital Age) 2010 (http: //www.celda-conf.org/) addresses the main issues concerned with evolving learning processes, innovative pedagogies, and technology-based educational applications in the digital age. The convergence of these two disciplines continues to increase and in turn, affects the academic and professional spheres in numerous ways. "Towards Learning and Instruction in Web 3.0 "addresses paradigms such as just-in-time learning, constructivism, student-centered learning and collaborative approaches which have emerged and are being supported by technological advancements such as simulations, virtual reality and multi-agents systems. This volume touches on both technological as well as psychological and pedagogical issues related to the developments of Web 3.0.

This invaluable new text on ICT offers support, guidance and inspiration to anyone training to teach or currently teaching in primary schools, as well as those studying Education Studies at undergraduate or postgraduate level. The book encourages teachers - and pupils - to realise the potential of the full range of ICT resources. It provides primary teachers with the knowledge, skills and confidence to plan, teach and assess their own ICT lessons, as well as to use ICT creatively across the whole curriculum. This is not a how to guide or collection of lesson plans, but instead balances research-based theory with everyday experiences, challenging you to understand teaching methods and how they translates into a range of suitable teaching strategies for the whole class, small group or individual using ICT.

This volume focuses on using visual research methods with children and young people. Featuring insights from academic experts and established professionals from visual industries, it explores a range of issues from visual ethics to children's interaction with place.

The book discusses the analysis, comparison and integration of computational approaches to learning and research on human learning. Learning has for some time been an issue of minor importance in the cognitive sciences. It has, however, now become one of the most active research fields in psychology, the neurosciences, and computer science (machine learning).
The aim of this book is to provide the reader with an overview of the prolific research on learning throughout the disciplines.

The book will not only provide a general overview for those who are new to the field but will also provide specialist knowledge for those who want to learn more about alternative approaches and conceptualizations of learning in other disciplines. The contributing authors are all considered as leading experts in their field and come from the fields of cognitive, computer and educational science. They provide an assessment of the state-of-the-art of research, links between the disciplines, and they highlight the critically important research issues and methodologies, thus providing a basis for future research.

In most schools the dominant supporting technology has been either the stand-alone personal computer or a modest local network. The situation is changing rapidly as a rising number of schools provide access to the Internet for their staff and pupils, opening avenues for communication and networking hitherto not possible. This book reflects on this change. It aims to further the vision of how these new technologies could improve and transform aspects of education. Yet in parallel it asks serious questions about the realities of an interface between the social, cultural and pedagogical contexts of education and the actual affordances that these new information and communication technologies offer. The chapters in this book provide a heady mix of foresight and practical reporting, of planning for the future but at the same time respecting the problems education already has with current technologies. The richness of the points presented here stems in part from the range of experience of the international authors - from academics and administrators, to teachers and curriculum designers. This mix ensures that the central questions on communications and networking in education are considered not simply from a variety of personal perspectives, but also from different cultural and environmental experiences. And yet interest also lies in the commonality of reporting and discussion based on activity in the field. All the contributions draw heavily on research and experience in devising and running projects and experimental activities in a range of schools and teacher-training institutions and environments. The opinions expressed are thus grounded in knowledge gained from work embedded in the reality of today's educational settings. This must be the only sound base upon which to consider the issues of the future. This book is essential reading for all professionals involved in all aspects of information and communication technologies in education. Teachers, lecturers, researchers, students and administrators will find it invaluable.

Learning spaces offer a rigorous mathematical foundation for practical systems of educational technology. Learning spaces generalize partially ordered sets and are special cases of knowledge spaces. The various structures are investigated from the standpoints of combinatorial properties and stochastic processes.

Leaning spaces have become the essential structures to be used in assessing students' competence of various topics. A practical example is offered by ALEKS, a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system in mathematics and other scholarly fields. At the heart of ALEKS is an artificial intelligence engine that assesses each student individually and continously.

The book is of interest to mathematically oriented readers in education, computer science, engineering, and combinatorics at research and graduate levels. Numerous examples and exercises are included, together with an extensive bibliography.

The rapid development and expansion of Web-based technologies has vast potential implications for the processes of teaching and learning world-wide. Technological advancements of Web-based applications strike at the base of the education spectrum; however, the scope of experimentation and discussion on this topic has continuously been narrow.

As an area, Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) aims to design, develop and test socio-technical innovations that will support and enhance learning practices of individuals and organizations. Information retrieval is a pivotal activity in TEL and the deployment of recommender systems has attracted increased interest during the past years. Recommendation methods, techniques and systems open an interesting new approach to facilitate and support learning and teaching. The goal is to develop, deploy and evaluate systems that provide learners and teachers with meaningful guidance in order to help identify suitable learning resources from a potentially overwhelming variety of choices. Contributions address the following topics: i) user and item data that can be used to support learning recommendation systems and scenarios, ii) innovative methods and techniques for recommendation purposes in educational settings and iii) examples of educational platforms and tools where recommendations are incorporated.

This volume provides foreign language educators and classroom researchers with an introduction to online intercultural exchange, the activity of engaging foreign language learners in collaborative project work with partners from other cultures through the use of online communication tools such as email, discussion boards and videoconferencing. The authors use their extensive experience in both the practice and research of online exchange to present a clear overview of the pedagogical theory behind online exchange and its contribution to different aspects of foreign language learning, including communicative competence, intercultural awareness and learner autonomy. The chapters look at different ways of organising such projects, such as the Tandem and Cultura models, and also provide clear discussions on practical aspects of the area including task design, the choice of communication tools and the role of the teacher.

This institute was organized and presented by an international group of scholars interested in the advancement of instructional design automation through theory, research and applied evaluation. Members of the organizing committee included Dr. Klaus Breuer from disce (Germany), Dr. Jose J. Gonzalez from Agder College of Engineering (Norway), Dr. Begofia Gros from the University of Barcelona, Dr. J. Michael Spector from the Armstrong Laboratory (USA). Dr. Gonzalez, co-director of the institute, and the staff of Agder College were directly responsible for the preparation and operation of the institute in Grimstad, Norway. The institute was held on the campus of Agder College of Engineering, July 12-23, 1993. The theme of the institute extended the initial work developed by the presenters at a NATO Advanced Research Workshop held in Sitges, Spain in 1992. During the two week institute, 21 presentations were made including papers and demonstrations. In addition to the formal presentations, working groups and on-site study groups provided opportunities for the students to participate directly in program activities. An important outcome for the working groups was the formal preparation of their efforts in chapters for this volume.